The
Bishop's Wife (1947)
MGM
Cast:
Cary Grant,Loretta Young, David Niven, Monty Woolley.
Rating:
NR
Run
time: 109 mins.
Genre:
Christmas
Verdict:
Beautiful
(see rating
system)
The
1947 fantasy flick is a real gem that deservedly gets a lot
of attention on TV each Christmas.
We
have Cary Grant to thank for a brilliant casting change that
make the movie so good. Grant suggested switching roles so
that David Niven would get the part of Bishop Henry Brougham,
a young clergyman trying to raise fund for a new cathedral.
In
turn, Grant took over Niven's original role as the mysterious
Dudley, a debonair young man who claims to be an angel sent
to help Henry in his quest.
Both
actors are perfect in their roles, particularly Grant who
brings the dashing Dudley alive.
Henry
surely needs some help. He's so busy trying to wheedle funds
out of wealthy, but grumpy patrrons like Mrs. Hamilton (Gladys
Cooper), that he's short-tempered with his doting wife Julia
(Loretta Young) and neglecting his young daughter Debby (Kaolyn
Grimes - who was Jimmy Stewart's daughter in It's A Wonderful
Life, 1946). Dudley changes all that, becoming rather too
attentive to Julia and a source of fun for Debby.
Dudley
seems to know everything and everyone, including Julia and
Henry's old friend Professor. Wutheridge (Monty Woolley),
who discovers his wine bottle keeps refilling itself after
Dudley pays a visit.
Full
of magical moments, such as Dudley, Julia and a taxi driver
skating on a lake in the park by moonlight, this is an unusual
and moving tale. It was nominated for five Oscars and the
black and white picture looks great in this newly remastered
edition.
